salachti ki'devarecha -- you get out just what you put in

The slichos season has started.  We say the 13 middos, we say ashamnu, etc. asking Hashem for forgiveness.  Hashem's response is:

ויאמר ה׳ סלחתי כּדברךּ

I heard a beautiful pshat in the name of R' Simcha haKohen Kook.  

A person can say the slichos, the tefilos of Yamin Noraim, and really take things to heart and pledge to make changes in his life.  But we all know that a person can also just go through the motions, saying the words מן השׂפה ולחוץ without thinking about them or attaching any real meaning to them.  

Hashem's response to us is exactly in proportion to what we put into what we are saying.  סלחתי כּדברךּ!  If our words are heartfelt and meaningful, then Hashem's response to us will be a deep, meaningful response.  

But if we just go through the motions, then Hashem's response will also just be a superficial one, מן השׂפה ולחוץ, without real meaning.

Let's make our words count!